USCG file photo
KEY WEST, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended their search Tuesday at 7:42 p.m. for Robert McCabe, 59, missing in the vicinity of Lakes Passage near Key West.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Key West Command Center received a distress call from four people aboard a 27-foot cabin cruiser at 6:25 p.m. Sunday, reporting McCabe had fallen overboard. The watchstanders directed the launch of two Coast Guard Station Key West boatcrews and a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.
“It is always difficult to suspend a search, but we remain ready to reinstitute the search if new information becomes available,” said Capt. Jeffrey Janszen, Sector Key West commander. “I would like to thank all the Coast Guard units and our partner agencies who assisted in the search for Mr. McCabe including Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Naval Air Station Key West.”
Search crews completed 37 searches covering approximately 2,032 square miles. Rescue crews involved in the search included:
- A Coast Guard Station Key West 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boatcrew
- Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boatcrews
- Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews
- Coast Guard Cutter Ridley crew
- Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew
- A Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Key West boatcrew
- A Naval Air Station Key West MH-60 Seahawk helicopter crew
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boatcrews
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission airplane crew
An investigation into this incident is being conducted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The cutter Ridley is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Jacksonville.
